I made it back to AK. My flight got in at midnight:30 last night. I feel like I've spent a depressingly large portion of my life waiting around baggage claims for skis. So last night I didn't wait, I grabbed my duffel bag when it came out on the conveyor and left. Skis (actually just poles this time) are always the last thing out. I went back to the airport this morning and picked up my poles. I think that this is a travel technique that I like, especially since my house is only 5-10min from the airport.